It’s easy to get caught up in the daily grind. If you work a nine to five schedule, your life runs like clockwork. You go to wake up, go to work, have dinner, and repeat. If your schedule feels repetitive, finding time to be creative can add spontaneity to your life. You don’t have to quit your job to paint in the woods. Just take an extra five minutes to an hour every day to fulfill your creative needs.
Utilize Your Lunch Break
Instead of sitting in the staff break room and eating the same salad you eat every day, use your lunch break to go on a mini-adventure. If you work somewhere urban-like New York City, visit a museum or step out to listen to artists playing on street pianos in New York. If you work in a more rural community, go for a hike in the nearest forest. Even listening to music or an audiobook during your lunch break get your creative juices flowing.
Take a Morning Moment
Mornings are often the most difficult part of the day. Especially when you have to wake up extra early to beat rush hour traffic or catch a train with available seats. However, it’s worth using 10 to 15 minutes of the day to do something you enjoy. This will start your day off on the right foot and feed those creative urges. Do an energizing morning Vinyasa yoga session. Meditate with daily affirmations to promote positivity. Listen to a podcast on the drive or train ride into work.
Unwind Before Bedtime
While it can be hard to find the energy to do anything after work other than drink a glass of wine and sleep, finding a creative activity to accomplish can be relaxing in its own way. It can soothe the mind after a long day of work and stress. Find a low-pressure creative project to work on before bedtime. Keep a journal or notebook on your nightstand and free write for ten minutes before bed. Who knows? Your free writes might turn into novel or script ideas. Read a chapter of the book you’re working on. Even watching something new on Netflix can creatively stimulate your mind.
Your schedule is probably hectic already. However, if you carve out small windows of time in your schedule for creativity, you will give your life more purpose and have something to look forward to each day.